Impact of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosis and treatment on self-esteem and body image

• Published in: Gynecologic oncology Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 345 - 349
• Main Authors: McDonald, Thomas W., Neutens, James J., Fischer, Lynn M., Jessee, Denise
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.1989
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety; Attitude to Health; Body Image; Colposcopy; Contraception - methods; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Parity; Self Concept; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners - psychology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - diagnosis; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - psychology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - surgery
• ISSN: 0090-8258; 1095-6859
• DOI: 10.1016/0090-8258(89)90170-4

Most women commonly take an abnormal Pap smear to be indicative of invasive cancer. This fear can permeate their life-style to the degree that it may influence receptivity to medical procedures as well as promote cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) to invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. This longitudinal study was undertaken to provide baseline data on self-esteem and body image as the patient progresses from the initial visit through the postsurgery visit. Twenty patients ranging in age from 15 to 40 years were followed through diagnosis and treatment with colposcopic biopsy showing 25% CIN I, 45% CIN II, and 30% CIN III. Concern for cancer overrode all other concerns except during the postsurgery visit, at which time loss of attractiveness was paramount. Loss of sexual functioning ranked high in all visits. Self-esteem was lowest and anxiety highest during the initial and postsurgery visits. Positive body image was greatest when the results of the biopsy were received and during the postsurgery visit. Patients and sexual partners exhibited similar patterns of anxiety about the medical condition. Psychological repercussions from CIN occurred even prior to diagnosis.